PROSPECT Hospice supporters will be stepping back to the 80s when they step out on this year's Starlight Walk.

The theme for the fundraiser, due to be staged on June 11, was picked for the 2020 walk to mark the charity's 40th birthday.

But the pandemic resulted in it being postponed for two years.

Head of income Sheryl Crouch said: “We’ve missed putting on our iconic Starlight Walk, which we’ve been holding since 2007. Now that restrictions have eased and people are mixing again we feel the time is right to hold it safely again this year.

“It’s a popular and well supported event which raises much needed funds for our work and we are excited to be able to run it again. We hope our supporters will come out in their numbers and make this an extra special Starlight Walk.

She said: “When we announced the 80s theme in 2020 there was a lot of excitement among our supporters and people who have signed up to take part in it this year are telling us they are digging out their brightest fashion accessories to match the era."

Among those taking part is Lisa Fry from Swindon. She'll be walking with friends who make up Carole’s Cheerleaders in memory of their friend and colleague Carole Henshaw.

She was a teaching assistant at Haydonleigh Primary School who was cared for by the hospice after shed diagnosed with cancer in October 2020. She died within eight weeks.

The cheerleaders held their own walk last year, raising £1,700.

Lisa said: “When we did our own walk last year we got cheers from people who saw us. I think Carole would have been smiling down on us; it’s something she would have loved to have done.

“We were so pleased to do it and raise funds for Prospect Hospice so it could help other people like Carole.

"The hospice gives wonderful care to people and support for their families and while it is delivered free of charge to anyone in our community that needs it, it does cost £7.5million each year to run the services, so it’s really important to fundraise,” she said.

Sheryl added: “The event this year is even more crucial for our fundraising income, which has been hit hard by the pandemic. Everyone who takes part will be helping the hospice to care for people who need us at the end of their lives.”

The Starlight Walk is at 8pm, starting and finishing at Swindon Town Football Club. People can walk 10km or 15km and along the route there is a remembrance area for walkers to stop and have a moment of reflection for those loved ones who are not able to join them this year.

Find out more information and book a place at prospect-hospice.net/starlight

There is an early bird rate of £12 for places booked before 31 March, after which entry is £15. Everyone who enters receives a T-shirt to wear on the night and a medal when they cross the finishing line.